37-4-402. License -- examination. (1) The department may issue licenses for the practice of dental hygiene to qualified applicants to be known as dental hygienists.
     (2) Except as provided by rules adopted under 37-1-319, a person may not engage in the practice of dental hygiene or practice as a dental hygienist in this state until the person has passed an examination approved by the board under rules it considers proper and has been issued a license by the department.
     (3) Applicants for licensure shall take and pass an examination in order to be licensed. The examination shall consist of a written part and a practical or clinical part. The board may accept, in satisfaction of the written part, successful completion of an examination by the national board of dental examiners and, whenever the board determines necessary, successful completion of a board examination in jurisprudence. The board may accept, in satisfaction of the practical part, successful completion of an examination by a board-designated regional testing service.
     (4) The board has the right to administer its own examination in lieu of acceptance of the national board written examination and a regional testing service practical examination. The board is authorized to make rules governing examination procedures.
     (5) Applicants for licensure shall submit an application, which must include, when required:
     (a) certification of successful completion of the national board written examination;
     (b) certification of successful completion of a regional board practical examination;
     (c) two affidavits of good moral character;
     (d) certificate of graduation from a board-approved dental hygiene school;
     (e) an examination fee commensurate with costs and set by the board;
     (f) a licensure fee commensurate with costs and set by the board;
     (g) a recent photograph of the applicant; and
     (h) copies of all other state licenses that are held by the applicant.
     (6) Applications must be submitted no less than 20 days prior to the jurisprudence examination. Applicants may not take the jurisprudence examination without first having completed and passed all other parts of the examination.
     (7) Examination results will be accepted for a period of time as set by board rule. An applicant failing to pass the first examination, if otherwise qualified, may take a subsequent examination on payment of a fee commensurate with costs and set by the board.
     (8) The board is authorized to adopt necessary and reasonable rules governing application procedures.

     History: En. Secs. 21, 23, Ch. 48, L. 1935; re-en. Secs. 3115.21, 3115.23, R.C.M. 1935; amd. Secs. 9, 11, Ch. 352, L. 1969; amd. Secs. 88, 90, Ch. 350, L. 1974; R.C.M. 1947, 66-921(part), 66-923(3); amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 337, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 349, L. 1983; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 449, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 29, Ch. 429, L. 1995.